Cable-terminal and system of protection.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

UTION.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 190B.

Ma da.

UNITED STATES FRANK B. COOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CABLE-TERMINAL AND SYSTEM OF EBOTEGTION.

Specification of Letters 'Eatent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed January 18, 1906. Serial No. 296.714.

, tion, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating same.

My invention relates to cable terminals such as are used on telephone and telegraph poles at the ends of aerial cables, to provide distribution and protection 4 therefor, my object being, first, to provide a terminal protector to be mounted on the terminal; fourth, to pro-- which is more suitablefor multiple distribution than terminals heretofore used; second, to provide a terminal on which the protective apparatus may be mounted in units as desired, either singly or up to the capacity of the terminal; third, to provide an improved vide improved means for supporting the cover of the terminal; fifth, to provide improved means for leading 'off the drop-wires from the terminal; sixth, to provide improved means for mounting the terminal to a pole; and seventh, to provide an improved system of multiple distribution, which furnishes complete protection for the cables and which is much more economical than such systems heretofore used. In telephone systems. of cogsiderable size, it is considered the best practice nowadays to use asvstem of multiple distribution for'the cables. This system of distributing each pair of wires at a number of points. makes the system very pliable and affords numerous advantages in the operation and utilization thereof.

It has been the practice, heretofore, to provide a terminal at each point of distribution of a cable and to equip each terminal complete with protection for all the lines which are distributed at each point. As a certain pair of wires in a cable is generally used at one point only, at any given time, it will be readily seen that the protection on this pair of wires. at the various points of distribution, is used at one point only, at any given time, that at the other points of distribution being out of service. If it is desired to use this pair of wires at another point of distribution, thexprotection at this latter point is then used, that at the other points being out of service. Consequently, in such a system. it is necessary to provide several times the amount of protection that is used at any given time on the system.

In my present invention, 1 have devised a. cable terminal particularly adapted for use on multiple-distribution systems, which comprises a blank terminal,

without protection, andwhich is adapted to have the protection mounted thereon, in units, at any time .either before or after the terminal is installed. With this arrangement, I can distribute a cable in multiple, at several different points, and use protection for each pair of the wires distributed, at one point only, where the pair is to be carried off to the drop-wires. If it is desired to change the drop-wires on a certain pair, from one point of distribution to another, the protector unit is also changed from the one point of distribution to the 7 other, along with the drop-wires.

It will readily be seen that in my system the'protection used is no more than the protection used on a system without multiple distribution, and that all of the features of a multiple-distribution system are provided.

I will'inore particularly describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cable terminal of the invention, showing a single pair of protectors mounted thereon: Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the cable terminal of Fig. 1, showing the cover therefor in cross-section, and pairs of protectors mounted on opposite sides thereof, respectively; Fig. 3 is a plan view on line AB of Fig. 1. and with the protectors removed: Figv 4 is a side elevation of the protector unit adapted to be mounted on the terminal; Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4, with the inclosed fuses removed, and Fig. 6 is a diagram of a system of multiple distribution, showing a number of terminals on the system and a pair of dropwires reading from one of the terminals, from a pair of wires which is distributed at the several terminals on the system. i

Like characters 'reler to like parts in the several figures.

The protector unit of Figs. 4 and 5 forms the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 356,881, filed February 11, 1907, which is a division of this present application.

Upright pieces 1, 1, preferably of wood, are suitably mounted on a circular supporting disk 2, with distance pieces 3. 3 secured Iherebetween, preferably as shown. The circular disk 2 is provided with holes 4, l therein adapted, to receive bolts 5. 5, which secure insulators 6, 6 in place, and with holes 7, 7 adapted to receive bolts 8, 8, which secure mount-ingbrackets 9, 9 for the terminal, in place; preferably as shown. The insulathe disk 2 or promiscuously therearound as shown in Fig. 3. Insulators 6, 6 are for supportingthe dropof the system. Mounting brackets 9, 9 may be secured to the plate 2 at any of the holes 7, 7, either close to the outer edge of plate 2, or more towards the of Fig. 1., with a portion shown in cross-section taken tors 6, 6 may r ronnted ina continuous row around wires which lead from the terminal to the sub-stations a mounting brackets 9, 9.

center thereof, to enable them to fit different sizes of poles. These holes 7, 7 are spaced preferably as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of giving this variation to the Each side-portion l, of the terminal is provided with small screw holes 10, 10 therein, which are adapted to receive suitable screws for'securing the protector unit s, shown in Figs. 4 and '5, in place. Each side portion 1 is also provided with holes 11, 11 therein adapted; to receive the circuit conductors which extend from the connection terminals 12 and 13 of the protector units, through the said side pieces 1, 1 to the inner portion of the terminal, and through suitable holes 14 and 15 in the bottom distance piece 3 andthe circular disk 2.

The protector unit of Figs. 4 and 5 preferably com- 7 prises a sheet-metal supporting strip 16, ribbed as at 17 to stiffen same and to which are mounted suitable.

cured to the hard rubber'blocks 18, '18 by being forcibly inserted through holes therein, preferably as shown,

which construction holds the' springs 19 and 20' very rigidly. In closed fuses 21, 21 are suitably pressed in 1 place in the springs 19 and 2t), preferably as shown.

Lightning arriesters 22, 22 are suitably supported between a bentup portion 23 of the base strip 16, and

I contact springs 24, 24. Insulating blocks 18, 18 are preferably riveted to the base strip 16 by hollow rivets which receive the screws ior.securing the protector unit to the terminal at 10, 10.

The terminal cover 25 is' preferably cylindrical in.

form and is preferably made of galvanized sheet metal. Supporting springs 26, 26, preferably four. in number, are carried by'iour corner pieces 27, 27, preferably of wood, which are secured to the side pieces 1, 1 of the terminal, preferably as shown. The terminal cover-'25 is made just large enough to fit over the circular projec tion 28 of the plate 2, when it is pulled down in place over the terminalas shown Fig. 2. -.'.lhe springs 26, 26 are preferably provided with a projection 29 and a notch thereon which fit the V-shaped groove 31 and the rim 35bt the cover 25 when the same is lifted to the top of the terminal. Whatever the position of the cover by the springs 26, 26 catching inthe V-shaped groove 31 of the cover so that the'lattcrcannot be readily pulled clear off of the terminal and dropped to the ground. If,

however, it is desired 'to' entirely remove the cover 25,

the springs 26, 26 may be pressed inwardly whichallows the projections 29, 29 to escape the V-shaped groove 31 and the cover to be readily removed.

In Fig. 6, 32 represents a cable and 33 a pair ofwires therein which are distributed in multiple at the several terminals 0, D,-E and F of the system.' In the system illustrated, the conductors 33 are used at terminal D from which the drop-w ires 34 lead to a sub-station: of the system; but are distributed alsoat terminals G, E

- as desired.

soasaa and F so that the drop-wires 34 may be changed from terminal D to any of the pther terminals if desired' In this system, where my cable terminals are used the protector unit for the pair of Wires would be mounted on terminal the other terminals being blank for this pair of wires. Should the drop-wires 34 be changed from terminal D to terminal F, the protector unit for this pair of wires at terminal D-would also be changed from terminal D to terminal F. This'system of protection may be employe'dfor all of the conductors of the cable, thereby giving a very pliable arrangement for the distribution and a very efficient and economical an rangement for the protection. 77 i While I have herein illustrated one particulariormot this invention, I do not wish to limit myselt' to the-exact details as herein shown, minor changes in which would not be a departure from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim as new and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent, is-;- v

1. A cable terminal of the character described, comprising a circular base plate, substantially flat protector mounting strips mounted vertically on the said base platc and parallel with spacebetween throughout their extent. series of holes in the' said strips for accommodating conductors leading therethrough to protectiy e deviceslln-tickets secured to the underneath side of the base plate and arranged to be mounted around the, top of a pole. insulators secured around the underneath side of the base plate for carrying drop conductors. and individual pro-' tcctor units adapted to be mounted singly on the said strips at any time during the use of the terminal.

2. A cable terminal comprising a circular base plate substantially. flat protector mountlng strips mounted ver. rically on the said base plate with space between throughout their extent. suitable means for mounting the base plate to a pole. series of holes through the said strips through which cable conductors and aerial conductors extendand are held in distribution-thereby. and individual protector units adapted to be mounted singly on the said side 'portionsto be'con-nected to the various conductors 3. A cable terminal. means for mounting same. to a pole.

a cylindrical cover for the terminal. a groove formed around the open end of the cover. suiTable springs cartried by the terminal andformed so as to fit'the said groove when the cover is raised to expose the terminal .head; and suitable guides for the cover. the said-springs pressing out against the cover to firmly h6ld same in place in whatever position it may be placed.

4. A cable terminal. a circular sheet-metal base plate therefor upon which the terminal .is mounted. suitable in sulators mounted around the edge of the said base plate and vertically arranged 'sheet metal strips secured to the underneath side of the said base plate and adapted to fit over thetop of a pole. to be secured thereto to support the terminal in place.

5. A cable terminal. a circular base therefor to which the terminal is mounted. suitable vertical brackets secured to the said base-and adapted to be secured around the top of a pole. and suitable holes in the said base spaced so as to give the said brackets various mountings to enable them to fit different sizes of poles.

G. A cable terminal comprising a suitable base. parallel sides mounted on the base. four upright corner posts so cured to the respective edges of the parallel sides. a "leaf spring carried by "each of the said posts and adapted to normally spring outward past the post. a cylindrical sheet metal cover for theterminal placed over same so that the springs bear against the'inner surface of the cover to hold same in place, a groove around the said cover near 7. A cable terminal comprising a circular base plate protector mounting strips mounted vertically on the said, base plate, holes through the base" plate near the center to accommodate a cable and aerial conductors leading to the terminal, series of holes through the said protector mounting strips for accommodating the cable conductors and aerial conductors and holding same in distribution, and individual protector units adapted to be mounted slngly in rows on each of the said protector mounting strips to be connected to the said cable conductors and 10 aeriatconductors, for purposes substantially as described.

As inventor of the foregoing, I hereunto subscribe my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of January, 1906.

FRANK B. COOK.

Witnesses FREDERICK R. PARKER, .lxu. F. TOMPKINS. 

